Seafood to Take Center Stage as By Brooklyn Launches Dinner Series

By Brooklyn’s recently opened Williamsburg outpost is set to launch a pop-up dinner series with its first event set for August 21 at their Grand Street store.

It’s the first time that By Brooklyn is organizing a dinner series themed event, though it has been hosting happy hour sessions with local food producers offering tastings and drinks. But the temptation from a test kitchen at the back of the store was a bit too much for the store’s owner and the series was born, with a four-course meal planned for Friday’s event, along with a dessert and a cocktail.

“We thought this would be a great way to invite our neighbors and do something fun for the community,” said Mindy Dulberg, an employee at By Brooklyn, and the series’ lead organizer. “Williamsburg has such a great food culture, and we are really excited to be a part of it, and it is fortuitous that we have this test kitchen and are able to cook here.”

The first dinner pop up will be served by fishmongers Gustavo Frias and Carolyn Koch. Frias is otherwise popularly known for Gustavo’s Salsa, frequently available at Smorgasburg and Greenpoint Fish and Lobster, the shop where he works.

Gustavo’s Salsa is sold at By Brooklyn and the collaboration was a natural fit for both parties.

Frias and Koch wanted to recreate a lot of what they’re used to cooking at home while thinking about Friday’s event. A lot of the dishes they created are made with a sense of the different kind of salsa Frias will pair them up with.

Some of the items on Friday’s menu include ceviche, Spanish mackerel, and sea scallops.

“We’re starting to expand to serving bigger groups,” said Frias. “But serving four or five course meals is still relatively new to us. But we really want to be able to play around with a bunch of different pop-ups in the city, and explore different pockets and communities in the city, and meet different people.”

Based on the success of Friday’s event, more events will be planned in the fall.